Main » Federation Internationale de Football Association fines Russia for racist chants at France friendly

Federation Internationale de Football Association fines Russia for racist chants at France friendly

09 May 2018

World Cup hosts Russian Federation have been fined 30,000 Swiss francs ($A40,000) by governing body FIFA following discriminatory chants from fans during the friendly against France in Saint Petersburg on March 27. It is reported Bloomberg.

He said: "The organisation reiterates its belief that the lack of effective action from Fifa against the issue of racism in Russian football will likely result in the further abuse of black players in matches involving the country".

Video from the match, which France won, showed that the Russian audience is deliberately imitated the sounds of monkeys in relation to the midfielder Manchester United Field Pogba before the Frenchman scored a goal.

Zenit St Petersburg have been charged twice by UEFA this season with the second case due to be judged just two weeks before the World Cup begins.

"FIFA can today confirm that the Russian Football Union has been sanctioned with a fine of CHF 30,000 for discriminatory chants by fans during the global friendly match between Russia and France played in Saint Petersburg on 27 March 2018", it said in a press release.

"FIFA has a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination", said the governing body in a statement.

Russian organisers have been at pains to play down persistent allegations of discrimination but have been subject to a number of sanctions in recent months.